Labor law: Heat in the office - your rights and obligations and cool tips to try out

Created: 07/13/2022, 15:10

By: Carina Blumenroth

In the next few days it will be hot in Germany - if you don't have vacation, you have to sweat at work.

But there are a few things to keep in mind when it's hot.

Blue skies, sunshine and high temperatures - for some that sounds like paradise, for others the alarm bells are ringing because the work is becoming more tedious.

When it's hot outside, concentration drops and performance deteriorates.

Headaches or circulatory problems can also occur.

Studies show that when it gets hot, the risk of accidents also increases - this was reported by the

.

Summer: 26 degrees should not be exceeded in work rooms

Heat free: What used to be a highlight in summer when you were at school, doesn't exist in the same form in working life.

However, the

provides a framework so that

from heat at the workplace must be avoided.

It must be ensured that employees are not exposed to any health-endangering situation - this can be found in the Occupational Health and Safety Act (ArbSchG), paragraph 4. The workplace rules regulate details that also affect the room temperature, for example.

When it gets too warm in the office, concentration drops.

(symbol image) © Imago

Heat in the office: How hot can it be at work?

According to

regulations, the air temperature in the office must not exceed 26 degrees.

If it gets warmer, the employer must take

to make the situation more bearable for the employees.

If the workplace is exposed to strong sunlight, the

must be taken first:

• Sun protection device (outside): including awnings, blinds

• Reflective devices located in the glazing space

• internal highly reflective or bright sunshades

• Sun protection glazing (within a sun protection system, glare protection and light color must be taken into account)

Source: Occupational safety committees at the BMAS

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Additional measures must be taken if the air temperature in the office

exceeds

under certain circumstances

.

This is particularly the case when heavy physical work is performed, when work or protective clothing that does not breathe well has to be worn, or when vulnerable people are employed at the location.

This includes young people, the elderly and pregnant women.

However, if it is around 35 degrees outside, then temperatures of 30 degrees in the office are reasonable, reports the portal

.

Only temperatures above 35 degrees air temperature in the office are considered unreasonable.

However, this does not mean that you will get a heat release directly.

However, your employer can allow a kind of

, for example , so that you can start work earlier on particularly hot days.

But it is also possible to

- it is important that you are not allowed to decide this on your own, your employer has to do that.

Heat in the office: The employer must take these measures when the temperature is over 30 degrees

If the temperatures go over 30 degrees, the employer must provide cooling immediately.

According to the

bible, this is usually the case when cold water is made available.

However, fans or roller blinds are also conceivable.

The means to be taken are at the discretion of the employer

Heat in the office: can I simply refuse to work?

From a temperature of

- but you may only refuse to work if the employer does not take countermeasures.

The exception is, of course, if your health is not good, then you can see a doctor and take sick leave.

Employees who can provide evidence of health problems have a special status.

If you point out that the office needs to be cooled down and this is not done, you have the right to time off or working from home on particularly hot days.

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Dress code in the heat at work

The heat at work doesn't give you a free pass when it comes to clothing choices.

Although the

is often relaxed when it is hot, according to labor law, this can still be specified by the employer.

For example, not too much skin should be visible during customer contact.

Tips against heat at work - you can do that

But you can also take the initiative yourself and cool yourself down.

These tips will help you:

• Clothing:

  wear breathable clothing such as linen, cotton and microfiber

• drinking a lot

  (mineral water, spritzers, unsweetened fruit teas);

  you should pay special attention to this on particularly hot days

• Cool your forearms

  with cold water

• Darken office space

This is how you tinker with an air conditioner to fight the heat in the office

If you have a

available, you can

in a few easy steps .

It only takes a few minutes and all you need is another item and some water.

Take the fan and limit the range of

.

Then hang a wet towel in front of it - a trouser hanger, for example, is suitable as a hanging device.

The maximum power of the fan should be on the towel - it is best to place the device in a corner that is not under siege, then nobody is sitting in the train.